Art of manufacturing vulcanized rubber articles



Nov'.` 23 1926.

J. W. PATTERSON ART OF MANUFACTURING VULCANIZED RUBBER ARTICLES Original Filed Nov. 18l 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 `az 3k -33 John W Patterson QM fw am Nov. 23 ,1926; 1,607,964 J. W. PATTERSON ART OF MANUFACTURING VULCANIZED RUBBER ARTICLS originan Filed Nov. 18, 1922 s snegtsf'sheet 2 vInventor: Joh/n W Patersoz Nov. 23 ,1626.l i 1,607,964

J. W. PATTERSON ART OF MANUFACTURING VULCANIZED RUBBER ARTICLES Original Filed Noir. 18, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet :5

[111/11llllllllllllll/ll//n yJaim/W Ptensa Patented Nev. 23, 1926.

UNITED STATES .PATENT oFFlc-E.'

JOHN W. PATTERSON, OF NEWfHAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR ITO THE SEAMLESS i v.1o

RUBBER COMPANY, INC., MASSACHUSETTS.

OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPOR'ATION 0]!"v ART or MANUFACTURING vULeANIzan RUBBER ARTICLES.

Application mea November 1s. 1922, serial No. 601,914. Renewed August le, 1926.

This invention relates to the art of manufacturing vulcanized fabric reinforced hollow rubber articles such as hot water bottles. a

It lis particularly desirable that rubber water bottles, or the like, possess the following properties or characteristics, vlz, great strength, smooth uniform surface, leak-proof jointures between the parts, light weight, high flexibility, long life, and considerable elasticity.A In an effort to produce bottles having such combination of properties, bottles have been manufactured with walls' comprising an intermediate ply of square woven straight cut fabric, thinly coated on both surfaces withrubber. None of the bottles produced by the methods heretofore known, however, have possessed all of the desirable properties referred to, and suchof said properties or characteristics as they have possessed are not present in the most satisfactory degree. f

f One method of manufacturing fabric reinforced water bottles heretofore practiced is known as the hand method and comprises the following steps: First asheet of square-woven fabric of close tight`mesh is given a thin coat of rubber on both of its surfaces, each of the respective coatings be ing of substantially the same' thickness. Fromthe sheet so prepared, blanks adapted .to form the -bodv of the bottle are then cut or died out. These blanks are of such size and form that when two of them are secured together in opposed relation they 'will constitutel the bodyvportion of the bottle.-A Preparatory to joining two` of the blanks together a coating of soapstone is appliedv to the inner surface of one'or both of the blanks for fthe purpose of preventing the opposed faces `of the pair of blanks from sticking or uniting together during the .steps of building the bottle and vulcanizing it. `The coating of soapstone does noty eX- tend entirely to the edges of the blanks, a narr'w margin of adhesive rubber being left at the outer periphery of the blanks to enable them .to be joined togetherlbyya suitable sealing strip.` This sealing stripV .consists of a l'narrow piece ofv vulcanized rilbber folded longitudinally along` a central line to make it substantially V-shaped in,

cross-sectidn.l The strip is applied by hand ization.

tothe adhesive margins ofthe inner faces of the blanks and serves to join the com panion pair of blanks together in opposed relation. A binder strip of unvulcanized rubber is then applied by hand around the edges of the joined blanks. This strip is folded so as to'overla' the margin of the outer) face of each o the blanks and is pressed by the operator into adhesive engagement with said margins. The neck and mouth of the bottle are then built up by hand from Afriction coated, square woven fabric and applied by hand to the body of the bottle. The handle` is next applied by hand, one of .its ends being adhesively 'secured to the body of the bottle and the other end 'being adhesively attached to the neck and mouth thereof.I The bottle so vmade is then completed by suitable yopen vulcan- It is to be noted that in carrying out the described method lno core or molds are employed and consequently that the strength and efficiency of the joints between the various parts will depend entirely upon the adhesive qualites'offthe rubber and the skill of ,the operator in ljoining the elements.

This constitutes a serious objection, as fre-l quently spots of insufficient or no union occur at the numerous joints, with the result that the bottle is rendered useless, or soon breaks down underthe pressure .and

flexing encountered in service. l

Another objection to the method \is the high labor-'costs involved by reasonof the large number of manual operations necessary to,produce the bottle, and by reason of lthe further fact that many months of training are required to give operatives the requisite skill to produce bottles in such quantities asy to make their services commercially profitable.`

The method is further objectionable in that many/of the bottles producedthereby are characterized by puckers, or wrinkles in the binding and sealing strips at the points -where such strips are bent to form the jointures at'the corners of the bottles. .These puckers, or wrinkles, provide channels through which water and moisture is con' ducted into contact with the fabric eX- posed at the` edges of the blanks. The fabric by reason Aof its hygroscoplc properties readily absorbs such lWater and moisture, With the result that rotting of the fabric and peeling away of the rubber surfaces thereon soon occurs,` rendering the bottle worthless. Y

The method is further objectionable in that only very thin Llayers of fabric and rubber maybe used in the blanks as it is necessary that the blanks be sufficiently yielding and pliable to adapt them to be freely flexed and manipulated by the operator into the ldesired conformation andunion with 'the other parts. If thick coatings of rubber Were used, the blanks would tend to pull away from adhesive union with the sealing and binding strips and other parts during the process of manufacture, and especially during the vulcanizing step when the rubber softens. Furthermore, the outer layer of rubber which is of necessity made thin does not have sufficient body to efficiently withstand the flexing, stretching and wear to which it is subjectedin service or to resist the ageingteffects of the freely circulating' currents of air t0 which it is exposed, and as al result the said layer soon .oxidizes, hardens, cracks, and peels away from the fabric, thus destroying the utility of the bottle. The break-down of the bottle is hastenedv by Water and moisture entering the fabric through cracks in the rubber or through the spots where the rubber has worn away or peeled ofi. As it is desirable that the fabric be thin and yet possess great strength, only straight cut, square woven fabric of close tight weave has been employed. Such fabric cannot be thoroughly impregnated by the rubber coatings and consequently the union between the rubber layers and the fabric is so weak that peeling of the rubber layers from the fabric quickly occurs under the flexing and stretching incident to service. Thorough tests show that the layers of rubber merely unite to theexternal surfaces of the sheet of fabric vand do vnot penetrate entirely through the fabric. Both of the layers are, therefore, disdistinctly separated from each other by the sheet of fabric. The tests further show that the union between the rubber layers and the fabric is soweak that the rubber may be readily peeled away from the fabric by the fingers. Due to the fact that the fabric is not penetrated lor thoroughly impregnated with the rubber of the layers, it remains in a highly absorbentA condition and thus will readily absorb and distribute any water or moisture that may leak into contact with it through cracks or openings in the rubber or through the wrinkles at the joints. The use of square woven straight cut tightly packed fabric produces packers at the margins of the blanks where the blanks are shaped over thel sealingstrip and such puckers provide additional channels pended.

through Which-Water may come in contact with the fabric exposed at the edges of the blanks. l

Themethod is :further objectionable in that the bottle produced thereby is characterized by a rough, uneven surface and unsynimetrical outline which give the bottle an unsightly appearance and detract greatly from its sal-ability. The outer layer of rubreinforced Water bottles is as follows: Av

thick stiff sheet of square woven straight cut, duck of close tight weave is first friction coated on both of its surfaces with a thin layer of rubber, thelayers of rubber on the respective,surfaces\being made of substantially the same thickness. From the material so prepared are cut or died, blanks of such shape that a pair of the blanks when opposed and joined together around their margins will constitute the body, neck, mouth, and-handle of the bottle. One of the blankslso formed is laid in one section of a suitable mold and a thin flatjfiexible sheet of paper cut to a pattern to dene the inner walls of the body, neck and mouth of the bottle, is superposed thereon. A companion blank is then laid over the yassembled blank and paper sheet, after which the other half of the mold is brought down and locked in place. The paper sheet serves to prevent the opposed faces of the blanks from sticking together during vulcanization. It is made of less area than tthe blanks, So that an adhesive margin is provided around the periphery of each 0f the opposed surfaces of the pair of blanks. These adhesive mar- `ins enable the blanks to be'united together l during/the-vulcanizing step. When a air of the blanks has been suitably vulcanlzed together at their margins to constitute the bottle, the thin paper sheet is withdrawn through the opening in the mouth of the bottle and a rubber core containing a metal threaded thimble is cemented in place in the neck of the bottle. "Suitable circular openings are then cut through the upper corners of the Vbottle toy provide handhelds by which the bottle may be lifted or sus- This method ef manufacture is objectionable in that the Walls of the bottle produced thereby are stiff and unyielding and have a relatively hard surface, which characteristics make the. bottom undesirable for appli- These undesirable characteristics result from .the use of a stiff, closely woven sheet of duck to reinforce the Walls, and further because of the very `thin surface layers of rubber used on the fabric reinforcement.

The method is further objectionable in that the bottle produced thereby has an outer layer of rubber too thin to efficiently withstand the ageing effectsof freely circulating currents of air, and the stretching, frictional Wear, and iexing, to which it issub-J jected in service. The thin outer layer soon oxidezes and' hardens from contact with air, with the result that When the bottle is flexed, cracks develop through which Water and moisture leak into contact with the fabric, producing disintegration of the fabric and peeling away of the rubber layers.

Another objectionable feature of the method .is that the 4Joottle' produced lthereby has its fabric layers' exposed throughout the .entire edges of the bottle. Water and moisture readily enter the fabric at such edges,

. producing rotting of the fabric andpeeling away of the rubber layers A further objection Ito the method is that/ the bottle produced thereby is so Weak that its life inservice is comparatively short. This Weakness of the bottle is due tothef fact that the rubber layers do not thoroughly penetrate the stiff, closely- Woven duck reinforcing sheets but exist merely as distince independent surface layers thereon. The union of the rubber layers with the duck is not sufficiently strong to prevent separation of the layers under the flexing and stretching incident to service, or to enable a strong permanent leakproof bond to be made between the united margins of the blanks.

Another objection to the method is that it produces a flat, thin bottle, Which when filled with. water will have its front and rear Walls sharply curved or`bellied fiom 'the margins of the bottle toward the center.

Thus the filled bottle Will not have a broad flat face adapted to rest comfortably.l and with uniform pressure throughout on the the part of the body to which it is applied. Furthermore, the bottle because of its undesirable shape when filled 'will tend to rock on or slide off-the part of the body to Which it is applied, and it will have a prominent central contact point from which the rubber will soon be Worn off by friction. A

Another objection to the, method is that the bottle produced thereby will develop pnckers oi scallops along its margins when filled with water. Such deformations of the bottle result in. the pulling apart of the joints at the margins of the blanks, thus causing leaks. The pnckering and scalloping is due 11i part to the shape-of the bottle puckers and scallops.

and in part to the forcing rib is not rovided at the margins. It is to bel noted tfiat the papery sheet used to prevent the inner vfaces of the blanks forni sticking together does not serve to space the front and rear Walls of the bottle an'appreciable distance apart so as to provide in the finished bottle a long, Wide relatively No edge walls forfspacing the front and rear walls are 'formed in the bottle, as the paper sheet is too vthin to produce such Walls. It will be obvious from with Water its Walls will be greatly distorted to provide acavity of vsuicient size to hold the requisite quantity of Water. This distortion draws the margins of the bottle "inwardly, forming the -undesirable Experience in 'the manufacture of bottles not reinforced with fabric has shown that way of overcoming this .difliculty isto form fact that a strong reindeep cavity for the reception of Water.

the foregoing tliat Y when the flat duck reinforced bottle is fil ed the most desirable the bottle with its front and4 rear Walls spaced apart a considerable distance by edge Walls. Such a bottle will have a cavity normally capable of holding a large amount of Water without undesirable. distortion of its Walls. Such bottles, when produced byf the molding process, are usually made on a core of appreciable thickness, the core being withdrawn lafter vulcanization through a slit formed in the Walls of the bottle for that purpose. straight cut, duck reinforcing sheets heretofoi-e used in the manufacture of the thin flat dnckreinforced bottle can not be shaped over a core of appreciable thickness or turned ovei' vat the margins Walls and marginal extensions for jointure, as such material cannot be shaped to the desired conformation without producing undesirable Wrinkles and puckeis. Furthermore, it is to be noted that in the thin flat bottles produced with the paper separating sheet, a strong elastic reinforcing rib is not provided at the edges of the bottle. Onthe contrary the joint at the margins is relatively s/tifll and unelastic, as only very thin layers of rubber are presenttherein, the.

major component of the margins being stiff duck. When suoli margins are pulled in and puckeied under the distortion produced 'by filling the bottle, such puckers become Obviously the square Woven,

to form edgellt) of manufacturing rubber Water bottles and the like, whereby the various disadvantages noted in the methods heretofore practiced facturing rubber water bottles and the like,

whereby fabric reinforced, molded water bottles, possessing great strength and durability, attractive appearance, integral leak-proof joints, desirable form, soft yielding elastic surface finish, and high flexibility and elasticity, may be, easily andrapidly manufactured at a minimum cost for labor. i

For convenience and to facilitate a clear understanding of the advantages to be gained, this invention will be described and illustrated in connection with the production of hot water bottles from which description its particular scope an'd application Iwill at once be apparent. I

With the above and other objects in view, which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood from this disclosure, the same consists in the novel steps, combination, and arrangement here.- inafter more fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of one of the female mold sections with the sectional core assembled therewith.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the complete molding device taken on the line A-A of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse section of the complete molding device taken on the line B-B of Figure 1.

Figure 4l isa View of a completed bottle, portions being broken away to illustrate certain of the no vel features of the construction.

Figure 5 is a plan view of one of the unvulcanized blanks, portions being broken laway and laid back to show certain details of the construction.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view of the bottom of the bottle, showing the rubber insert for sealing the slit in the bottom of the bottlc, through which the core is withdrawn.

Figure 7 is a vier7 of the upper part of the bottle split centrally flatwise to show the integral flange of rubber and the metal thimble associated with the walls of the bottle during the molding and vulcanizing operation.

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view-'of the finished bottle on the 'line C-sC of Figure 4.

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8,lth^e bottle being shown in its unvulcanized condition. y

In carrying out the present invention in one of the preferred ways a sheet ofv stockinette 10 is run through a calender .whereby the rubber layers 11 and 1l2 are applied to its surfaces. The rubber layer 11, which will -constitute the outer surface of the finished .bottle is preferably made of greater thickness than` the layer 12 which will constitute both rubber layers are ymade ofsutticient thickness Ato provide enough rubber stock to thoroughly penetrate and impregnate the sheet of stockinctte during the molding and vulcanizing of the bottle and to insure ample rubber on both the surfaces of the stockinette to completely conceal the same, and give the finished bottle a smooth, uniform, elastic and attractiveexterior.

` From the sheetof multiply material so prepared, are cut or died blanks 13, each blank being of a suitable pattern to constitute one-half of a bottle, and comprising a mouth portion 14, neck portion 15,/bod portion 16, and tab portion 17. (See Figure 5.) A pair of these blanks, when joined togetherl around the margins will formthe walls of the bottle. e

Preparatory to placing a pair of the blanks in the vulcanizing molds, there is applied to the surface 12 of Sthe neck portion 15 of eachblank an oblong-shaped block 18 of unvulcanized rubber.V vThe pair of blocks -l8 are softened during the vulcanizing stepand f molded integrally together to form an elip- -tical flange\19 in the lneck of the bottle, in

which the metal thimble 20 forf the bottle stopper is imbedded. (See Figure 7.)v

There is also applied around the outer peripheral margin of each of the blanks a sealing and reinforcing strip 2l of unvulcanized rubber. yThese strips overlap the margins of ythe surface "11 of the blanks and extend outwardly beyond such margins. The outwardly extending portions 22 of the strips are united together during the 'vulycanizingstep to form a thick coveringy of rubber over: the edges of the blanks, thus effectively sealing such edges *against the entrance of moisturey and water into the fabric. It is to be noted at thispoint thatf the rubber of the strips enters into homogeneous union with the rubber of the layers 11 and 12 during the Vulcanizing step to form in conjunction with the joined margins a strong elastic rib 23 extending outwardly from the edge walls of the bottle and centrally thereof.` (See Figure 4.) This rib assists in maintaining the bottle in symmetrical shape when filled. Theealing .strips further serve to provide vample rubber stock to insure a strong, integral bond between the blanks at their joined margins.

`lit) A grommet ring 24 of unvulcanized rubber is next applied to the surface 11 of the tab of each of the blanks. These rings form in the completed bottle a grommet around the opening 25 provided for` suspension of the bottle.

A' handle. 26 for the bottle is next p'repared. l This consists' of a tube 27 of unvulcanized rubber reinforced centrally by a core 28 of rolled friction coated fabric. 'One 1.-

end of the handle is split centrally to pro-v vide two armsv 29 and 30, one of the arms being adapted for' union with one of the blanks and thel other for unionl with the other blank. The' other end 31 ofthe handle is formed substantially wedge-shaped for union with the mouth of the bottle. The

handle is set in place by adhesively attaching one of its arms 29 to the body portion of one ofthe blanks and -adhesively securing its end 31 to the mouth portion of the blank. (See Figures 5 and 7.)

When the various parts have been prepared as set forth, one of the blanksI` is placed in the cavity of one of the female mold sections. A sectional core is then superposed on the blank. This core comprises two main elements 32 and 33. (See Figures 1,12 and3.)

The element 32 comprises a fiaring sleeve 34 'adapted to form the interior of the mouth and-neck of the bottle. This sleeve is provided with a longitudinal central bore 35 and is formed at one end with a shoulder 36 and a reduced cylindrical extension 37. The extension 37 is adapted to receive a metal thimble 20, such thimble being adapted to be embedded in the neck flange 19 of the bottle during the vulcanizing process. The thimble is retained in place on the reduced extension 37 by the shoulder 36 of the sleeve and the flange 38 formed on one end of a rod 39 detachably fitted in the bore 35 of the sleeve. The upper end ofthe rod 39 extends beyond the top of the sleeve and is provided with a slot 40 through which a wedge pin 41 is driven to draw the rod upwardly to clamp the thimble between the flange 38- and the shoulder 36.

The other element 33 of the sectional core comprises a' wide, flat relatively thick rigid body member 42, adapted to support the inner faces of the walls of the body portion of the bottle duringV vulcanization. It is to be noted at this point that the shape of the core is such as to form a bottle having a front wall 43 a rear wall 44 and an edgewall 45. The edge wall serves to space thefront and rear'- walls a sufficient distance apart to provide a cavity in the bottle of ample size to hold a large quantity of 'water without producing undesirable dlstortion of the walls of the bottle.

d f th lement 33 is formed l The upper en O e e 7 "is next withdrawn through the slit 49 formed Y with a pin 46 adapted to enter] a recess 4 i provided with inthe'rod 39 of 'the' core element 32 to secure the two core elements or sections together so that each element will be capable of .adjustment in the mold `independent of the other.

The lower end of the core element 33 is formed with a tongue 48 adapted to protrude through the base of the bottle to serve to maintain the edges of the vblanks through a portion of the base of the bottle separated during the vulcanization of the bottle in order to provide an opening 49 for the final withdrawal of the core element therethrough. (See Figure 6.) It is not essential that the opening, or slit be made in the bottom of the bottle as it may be satisfactorily formed at any other suitable place. It y,isfurther not essential that the core be means for forming a slit as the slit may be cut in the bottle after the bottle is formed.

After the core sections have been assembled as set forth, the core is superposed on the blank within the mold section 50 and a companion blank is then applied. The mold section 51 is then brought down after which the bottle is subjected to suitable vulcanization. During vulcanization the rubber composing the layers' 11 and 1 2 will soften suiiiciently to thoroughly penetrate and impregnate the sheet of stockinette 10, and to pass under the pressure of the molds completely through the interstices existing between the strands of the stockinette, sothat the two layers of rubber will be homogeneous- 1y united at a great number of closely spaced points throughout the entire walls of the bottle. The layers of rubber and fabric will thus be united into a permanent integral sheet or wall. (See Figures 8 and 9.) Tests have shown that the final union between the rubber layers `and fabric is so strong that it is impossible to separate or peel the rubber from the fabric. This feature presents `im portant advantages as it gives to the walls of I the bottle such strength that stretching or flexing thereof .will not produce cracks in the rubber or peeling, or separation of the rubber from the fabric reinforcement. It is to be noted that in the fabric reinforced water `bottles heretofore known the layers of fabric and rubber exist in the final article as distinct, independent layers, the yrubber layers being merely united to the surfaces of the sheet of fabric. tion permits the layers to peel or split away from the fabric when the walls of the bottle are stretched Vor flexed in service.

When the bottle has been built up as set forth, it is suitably vulcanized in the mold- E ing device, after which the molds areopened and the bottle witlrthe sectional core in place therein'is removed.

The core element 33 of the sectional core Such weak construc- 7 -at the base of the bottle by thetongue 48. As has been previously pointed out, the core element 33.is made of suliicient thickness to space the front and rear walls of the completed bottle a considerable distance apart to provide a body cavity in thev bottle of .a size and shape adapted to contain a large quantity of water without objectionble distortion of the bottle, and to provide a bottle which when filled' with the proper quantity of.water will afford a broad, flat surface for contact with the body of the user. (See Figures 3 and 8.) It is desirable from the standpoint of facility in manufacture and ultimate etliciency of the bottle that the slit 49 provided for the redrawal of the core be made as short as possible. Itis especially desirable that the unslit "portions 52 be left at the base of the bottle between the sides of the bottle and the ends of the slit so that a strong, permanent vulcanized joint may be formed between the ears 53 of the sealing piece 54 used for closing the slit.' (See Figure 6.) From the foregoing it will be apparent that in order "that the wide relatively thick core clement 33 maybe .withdrawn through the relatively narrow slit, the lips of the slit and the material adjacent thereto must be capable of a great amount of Astretch to enable the slit to be temporarily enlargedsufliciently to per- V'mit withdrawal of the core element.

After the core element 33 has been withdrawn through"y the slit, the sealing piece of unvulcanized rubber 54 is placed between the lips of the slit. It's ears 53 overlap the 'unslit portions 52 at the base of the bottle.

Suitable molding devices are then employed to engage-the parts at the base of the bottle `and `holdthem underproper pressure durlng the process of yulcanizing the lips of the slit permanently together.

The method setfo-rth enables the rapid production at a relatively low cost for labor,- of a water bottle possessing the following desirable properties or characteristics, viz: great strength, strong'integral leak-proof joints, relatively light weight in .proportionto strength, suitable form for containing a large amount of water without undesirable distortion, great elasticity, unusual durability, and an attractive smooth elastic external Surface. l

In the'application of the rubber layers 11 and 12 to the sheet of stockinette, I find' that Isatisfactoryy results can be obtained by merely calendermg the layers on the stockinette without-frictioning them on, but it is to be understood that this `invention contemplates vfrictioning thelayers on the fabric or applying them thereto in any other suitable manner.

It is to be noted that instead -of'cutting blanks from a multi-ply sheet of fabric and rubber, sheets of rubber .and stockinette may be cut separately and assembled to form the blanks or otherwise assembled to form the walls ofthe bottle.

It is alsoto be noted that it is within the spaces between the strands,lof suiiicient size to permit the rubber of the layers to pene-- .trate completely through the material and form a homogeneous union between the layers of rubber.

It is furthermore to be noted that in the method described Ithe outer layer of rubber is made considerably thicker than the inner layer for the purpose of giving the outer layercsufiicient body and strength to resist frictional wear and to withstand the disintegrating action of constantly circulatingcurrents of air. Thorough tests have shown that rubber surfaces which are in Contact with moving currents of air deteriorate much more rapidly than surfaces which are exposed to still air. Itis to be understood, however, that this invention'is not limited 'to the use of a thicker outer layer than inner,

.bottlewalls, as distinguished from the thin paper cores heretofore used which produce a shallow cavity incapable ofreceiving a suitable quantity of water without producing undesirable wall distortion. v

l/Vhile in the embodiment of the invention set forth the use of acore for imparting the desired form to the bottle has been described, it is to be understood that air or other suitable medium may be employed to hold the walls apart to produce the body cavity and to effect in combination with the mold walls the desired penetrationof therubber layers through the fabric.

So far' as I am aware it is broadly novel to provide a method for manufacturing water bottles having body walls of rubber reinforced with fabric, whereby the bottle may be vulcanized on a core of appreciable thicknessI to 'produce a normally deep body cavity in the finishedarticle.

Sofar as I am aware it is broadly novel to provide a ymethod for manufacturing water bottles having walls comprising a reinforcing ply of fabric provided 'on both sides 4with a layer of rubber,y whereby the rubber vf the layers will be caused to thoroughly penetrate the interstices of the fabric'fply 5 and unite the twov layers together .in homogeneo'us union at-a great number of closely spaced spotsentirely throughout the walls of the bottle. i

S0 far as I am awa-re it is broadly novel to l0 provide a method of manufacturing' a`moldv ed water bottle having Walls of rubber reinforced with a ply o f fabric, whereby the edges of the fabric will .be permanently v sealed against contact with water and mois- .lb ture. As many bodiments of this invention may be made ,without departing fromA the spirit thereof, it is to be understood' that I do not intend t limit myselfto the specic form of the invention as set 'forth except as `indicated in the appended claims.l y

' What I claim anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

'L'That improvement in the art of manufacturing `water bottles Dand the like which consists in placing fabric having anappreciable stretch between layers of rubber and ,i inserting the assembly into aimold for shaping Athe material'into the desired form, and ,then`vulcanizing thea assembly under pres,- lsure so that the fabric and the layers of rubber become united into one unitary body V`whieh cannot split along the original line of contact between the several members.

2. That improvement in the art Nof manufacturing water bottles and the like, which comprises' forming wall material therefor of sheets of rubberwith a reinforcement insert 40 of fabric capable of'an appreciable stretch disposed therebetween, cutting a pairof com- V panion blanks from the said wall material, applying a strip 'o vu'lcanizable rubber to the margin of. each of the said blanks, assembling the blanks and joining their margins together in a mold, subjecting'the said apparently widely different exn- .t

blanks and their margins to vulcanzation under pressure in the mold, causing thereby portions of the softened mass of rubber o f the sheets of rubber and their margins to be forced entirely through the interstices of the insert of fabric and to merge together therethrough, and -simultaneously causing the rubber of the said strips to unite with the rubber of the joined margins and'thus seal the edges of the blanks as well as the edges `of the inserts of fabric, whereby the said blanks are formed into an integral, permanentwall structure and the margins securely joined and sealed in a water-tight joint entirely around the Water bottle. 3. That improvement in the art of manufacturing water bottles and the like, which comprises forming wall material therefor of sheets-of rubber with a reinforcement insert of fabric capable of `an appreciable stretch therebetween, cutting a pair of companion blanks from the said wall material, applying to the margin of eachA of the said blanks a strip of vulcanizable rubber extending outwardly beyond the margin, assembling the blanks on a core in a mold and .joining their margins and attached strips Atogether in parallel. relation, subjecting the said blanks and their margins to vulcaniza'tion and pressure in the mold, causing thereby portions of the softened rubber mass of the sheets of rubber and their margins to be .forced completely through the interstices of the insert of fabric and joined in a vulcanized union therethrough, thusbinding the insert of fabric securely in the rubber mass, and causing the rubber of the said strips to so enter into a vulcanized union with Athe rubber of the joined margins as to form a thick covering of rubber completely over the edges of the blanks, whereby the said blanks are formed into an integralz permanent wall structure and their marglns into 'an elastic, Watertight rib around the completed water'bottle.

:.ioHN W. PATTERSON. 

